History Forum / General / General Topics / February 2004

Year of Mahabharat

By Saroj Bala
Op-Ed
The Pioneer
Wednesday, February 25, 2004

For thousands of years, we have believed in the divinity
of Shri Krshn. For us he was a Karmayogi par excellence
who gave us action oriented philosophy of life in the
form of Bhagavad Gita. But questions have constantly
haunted us as to whether Krshn was a historical or
mythical character and whether the war of Mahabharat was
actually fought.

Till recently, we did not have the wherewithal to search
for and establish the truth. But modern scientific tools
and techniques like computers with planetarium softwares,
advancements in archaeological and marine archaeological
techniques, earth-sensing satellite photography and
thermo-luminescence dating methods, all have made it
possible to establish the authenticity and dating of many
events narrated in ancient texts like the Mahabharat.
Recent archaeo-astronomical studies, results of marine-
archaeological explorations and overwhelming
archaeological evidence have established the historicity
and dating of many events narrated in the Mahabharat.
These have led to the conclusion that Mahabharat War was
actually fought in 1478 BCE and Shri Krshn's Dwarka City
got submerged under the sea in 1443 BCE.

Astronomical Evidence: In the Mahabharat references to
sequential solar and lunar eclipses as also references to
some celestial observations have been made. Dr R. N.
Iyengar, the great scientist of Indian Institute of
Science, Bangalore, examined relevant references and
searched for the compatible dates by making use of
planetarium software (PVIS and EZC). He concluded that
most of these references were internally consistent and
that the eclipses and celestial observations of
Mahabharat belong to the period 1493 BCE-1443 BCE of
Indian History, (refer Indian Journal of History of
Science/38.2/2003/77-115).

In the Mahabharat, there are references to three
sequential solar eclipses and some other planetary
positions. Reference to the first solar eclipse comes in
the Sabha Parv (79.29), graphically described by Vidur
when Pandav start their journey to the forest on being
banished for 12 years of life in exile and one year of
life incognito after they had lost everything in the game
of dice. After 13 years of exile and incognito life, the
Pandav returned to Hastinapur and demanded their kingdom
back, but Duryodhan refused. Several efforts to prevent
war failed and war became imminent.

There is a reference to the second solar eclipse in the
Bheeshm Parv (3.29), following a lunar eclipse occurring
within the same fortnight a few days before the actual
war of Mahabharat. These eclipses occurred after 14-15
years of the first solar eclipse The epic also refers to
some unfavourable planetary positions between the second
solar eclipse and the beginning of the war on Kartika
Purnima (Bheeshm Parv 3.14 to 3.19). On Kartik Krshn
Ashtami, Saturn was near Rohini and Mars was between
Jayestth and Anuradha. Twenty two days later, on Kartik
Poornima, Saturn was near Rohini, Mars was near Jayestth
(probably Uranus) was between Chitra and Swati.

Another white planet (possibly Jupiter) had moved from
Poorv-bhadr to Uttar-bhadr. Reference to the third solar
eclipse comes in the Mausal Parva (2.19 to 2.20)
occurring in the 36th year of the Mahabharat War. This
was visible from the city of Dwarka, which is stated to
have been subsequently submerged under the sea. For these
observations to be internally consistent, there should
have been three solar eclipses within 50 years. The first
one and the second one after a gap of 14-15 years should
have been visible from Kurukshetr whereas the third solar
eclipse should have been visible from Dwarka after 35
years of the second one.

Marine Archaeological explorations around Dwarka: The on-
shore and off-shore explorations carried out in and
around Dwarka during last 50 years have revealed that
Dwarka was a prosperous city in ancient times, which was
destroyed and reconstructed several times. The work of
great excavators like Z. D. Ansari and M. S. Mate and
chance discovery of temples of 9th century CE and 1st
century CE buried near the present Dwarkadhish Temple,
prompted setting up of a Marine Archaeology Centre
jointly by the National Institute of Oceanography and the
Archaeological Survey of India. A project for marine
archaeological explorations in Dwarka was initiated under
the dynamic leadership of great marine archaeologist Dr
Rao, who has the distinction of being awarded "The World
Ship Trust Award" for outstanding research in this field.

Dr Rao's team consisted of expert under-water explorers,
trained diver-photographers and archaeologists. The
technique of geophysical survey was combined with the use
of echo-sounders, mud-penetrators, sub-bottom profilers
and under-water metal detectors. This team carried out 12
marine archaeological expeditions between the year 1983
to 1992 CE and articles/antiquities recovered were sent
to Physical Research Laboratory for dating. By using
thermo-luminescence, carbon dating and other modern
scientific techniques, artifacts were found to be
belonging to the period 15th to 18th century BCE. In his
great work, The Lost City of Dwarka, Dr Rao has given
scientific details of these discoveries and artifacts.

Conclusions arrived at after carrying out these under-
water archaeological explorations support and validate
the dates arrived at through astronomical calculations.
These also prove that the reconstructed city of Dwarka
was a prosperous port town, and that it was in existence
for about 60-70 years in the 15th century BCE before
being submerged under the sea in the year 1443 BCE.

Attempts have also been made to determine the year of
Mahabharat from the details available in scriptures which
include Puranas. When events are unrecorded for quite
some time and are passed on to the succeeding generations
through Shruti and Smriti, the inaccuracies and myths get
mixed with reality on account of differences in the
perceptions of different individuals. However, it is for
the objective rational individual mind to find out and
differentiate fact from fiction. Important information,
including the genealogy charts of rulers after
Yudhishtthir, are available in Shrimad Bhagvatam, Matsya
Puraan and Vayu Puraan. On the basis of such evidence,
famous historian Lord Cunningham assigned the year 1424
BCE to the War of Mahabharat.

Evidence referred to earlier point more to the
probability that nobody had come to India from Central
Asia or from any other place. In fact, Indo-Aryan kings
and warriors had come to Kurukshetr in their war chariots
from all over India to participate in the Mahabharat War
and that a whole lot of people got killed in that war.
The killers as well as the killed, the victors as well as
the vanquished, the charioteers as well as the foot
soldiers, all were Indians who had already experienced
thousands of years of prosperous and advanced
civilisation. Archaeology also records a continuous
indigenous evolution of Vedic civilisation going back to
5000 BCE at sites like Mehrgarh and Koldi.

It is sad that so far we have not known even a fraction
about our ancient civilisation and cultural achievements.
Detailed factual data in our ancient texts and Sanskrit
manuscripts is beckoning us to carry out further
research. By making use of modern scientific instruments
and techniques we must discover the true facts about our
ancient past. If we do, we may be able to gather
supportive evidences to reassert that ours was the oldest
civilisation in the world and that our ancestors, the
Vedic Aryans, had travelled from India to various parts
of Asia and Europe to spread our knowledge, civilisation
and culture. When this is recorded we would be able to
hold our heads higher and be able to take on the future
with greater confidence.

Read the complete news at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com

Jai Maharaj
Creator of newsgroups alt.jyotish, alt.language.hindi, alt.religion.hindu
http://www.mantra.com/jyotish
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Panchaang for 6 Phalgun 5104, Wednesday, February 25, 2004:

Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Uttarayane Moksh Ritau
    Kumbh Mase Shukl Pakshe Buddh Vasara Yuktayam
Bharani Nakshatr Brahm-Indr Yog
    Kaulav-Taitil Karan Shasthi Yam Tithau

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